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United States Patent |
5,199,831
|
Broucksou
|
April 6, 1993
|
Infinitely positionable nose coupling
Abstract
The infinitely positionable coupling system of the present invention
includes a hollow outer race, a hollow inner race, and a locking assembly
which permits locking of the hollow inner race to the hollow outer race in
an infinite number of positions. The hollow outer race engages a nose
piece and the hollow inner race threadably engages the drill housing.
Accordingly, the nose piece is infinitely positionable with respect to the
drill housing by positioning the hollow inner race with respect to the
hollow outer race and allowing the locking assembly to hold them in
position one with respect to the other.
Inventors:
|
Broucksou; Robert (Columbia, SC)
|
Assignee:
|
Cooper Industries, Inc. (Houston, TX)
|
Appl. No.:
|
829198 |
Filed:
|
February 3, 1992 |
Current U.S. Class: |
408/72R; 192/44; 408/241R |
Intern'l Class: |
B23B 049/02 |
Field of Search: |
192/27,44
408/72 R,72 B,241 R,241 B,241 G
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
247669 | Sep., 1881 | Mallett et al. | 192/44.
|
2001668 | May., 1935 | Maier | 192/44.
|
3243023 | Mar., 1966 | Boyden | 192/44.
|
3476226 | Nov., 1969 | Massey | 192/27.
|
4588334 | May., 1986 | Khurana | 408/241.
|
4643621 | Feb., 1987 | Fuller, Jr. et al. | 408/241.
|
4668134 | May., 1987 | Vindez | 408/241.
|
4752158 | Jun., 1988 | Riley | 408/72.
|
Primary Examiner: Bishop; Steven C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Thiele; Alan R., Scott; Eddie
Claims
I claim:
1. A coupling for use between a drill housing and a nose piece, said
coupling comprising:
means for attachment to the drill housing, said means for attachment
consisting of a hollow inner race;
means for attachment to the nose piece, said means for attachment
consisting of a hollow outer race; and
means for providing infinitely rotatable positioning of the nose piece with
respect to the drill housing, said means for provision consisting of a
plurality of rollers positioned between said hollow inner race and said
hollow outer race.
2. The coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said rollers are held in
position by a locking assembly.
3. An indexing coupling for infinitely positioning a nose piece with
respect to a drill housing, said indexing coupling comprising:
a hollow inner race, said hollow inner race having:
an internally threaded proximal ring portion;
a central portion having a plurality of substantially flat external
surfaces;
a distal ring portion;
a locking assembly, said locking assembly having:
a proximal ring portion constructed and arranged to encircle the proximal
ring portion of said hollow inner race;
a cage portion;
a plurality of pairs of rollers constructed and arranged to fit within said
cage portion;
biasing means for separating the individual rollers within said pairs of
rollers;
a hollow outer race, said hollow outer race having:
a proximal ring portion constructed and arranged to fit over said cage
portion of said locking assembly;
an externally threaded distal portion;
whereby when said proximal ring portion of said locking assembly is
rotated, said cage portion moves said rollers against said biasing means
and said hollow outer race may be rotated with respect to said hollow
inner race, thereby positioning the nose piece with respect to the drill
housing.
4. The indexing coupling as defined in claim 3 wherein said biasing means
is a spring.
5. The indexing coupling as defined in claim 4 further including a distal
flange portion on said hollow inner race for retaining said roller members
within said cage.
6. A drill system comprising:
a source of rotational power;
a drill bit;
a drill bushing constructed and arranged for guiding said drill bit;
a nose piece for mounting said drill bushing;
an infinitely positionable indexing coupling interposed between said source
of rotational power and said nose piece, said index coupling having:
means for attachment to the source of rotational power, said means for
attachment consisting of a hollow inner race;
means for attachment to the nose piece, said means for attachment
consisting of a hollow outer race;
means for providing infinitely rotatable positioning of the nose piece with
respect to the source of rotational power, said means for provision
consisting of a plurality of rollers positioned between said hollow inner
race and hollow outer race.
7. The coupling as defined in claim 6 wherein said rollers are held in
position by a locking assembly.
8. An indexing coupling comprising:
a hollow inner race, said hollow inner race having:
an internally threaded proximal ring portion;
a central portion having a plurality of external flats;
a distal ring portion;
a locking assembly, said locking assembly having:
a proximal ring portion constructed and arranged to encircle the proximal
ring portion of said hollow inner race;
a cage portion;
a plurality of pairs of rollers constructed and arranged to fit within said
cage portion;
biasing means for separating the individual rollers within said pairs of
rollers;
a hollow outer race, said hollow outer race having:
a proximal ring portion constructed and arranged to fit over said cage
portion of said locking assembly;
an externally threaded distal portion;
whereby when said proximal ring portion of said locking assembly is
rotated, said cage portion moves said rollers against said biasing means
and said hollow outer race may be rotated with respect to said hollow
inner race, thereby positioning the nose piece with respect to a drill
housing.
9. The indexing coupling as defined in claim 8 wherein said biasing means
is a coil spring.
10. The indexing coupling as defined in claim 9 further including a distal
flange portion on said hollow inner race for retaining said roller members
within said cage.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to power tools; more particularly the present
invention relates to power tools in which a nose piece and drill bushing
are utilized for guiding a drill bit through a drill fixture into a work
piece.
In many drilling operations, particularly aircraft, it is well known to
utilize drilling apparatus including a nose piece with a taper lock style
drill bushing mounted at its outboard end. The taper lock style drill
bushing is used to lock the drilling apparatus to a drill fixture which is
then positioned over a work piece. Typically, the drill fixture is rigidly
mounted to the work piece to assure accurate placement of the drilled
hole. The drill fixture includes two fasteners which are used to lock the
taper lock style drill bushing in position against the drill fixture. The
taper lock style drill bushing is usually threaded into a nose piece at
the end of a power drill and the nose piece is then rigidly attached to
the power drill. Consequently, when the nose piece and taper lock style
drill bushing are attached to the power drill, the power drill may be
firmly affixed to the drill fixture thus allowing accurate drilling of a
hole in the work piece.
A problem arises when the drilling apparatus has an appendage extending
outwardly therefrom. Such appendage may contain operational controls, a
power source, or speed reduction gearing. When it is necessary to rotate
the entire drilling apparatus to position the taper lock style drill
bushing with respect to the fasteners which extend from the drill fixture,
the appendage extending from the drill may butt up against a bulk-head, a
wall or a spar. Such problems frequently occur when the hole to be drilled
is in a corner. This contact of the appendage with the bulk-head, wall or
spar prevents the full rotation of the drilling apparatus thus preventing
proper engagement of the taper lock style drill bushing with the fasteners
which extend from the drill fixture. To solve this problem a system is
required in which the nose piece may be rotatably positioned with respect
to the rest of the drill apparatus while the drill apparatus is in
position for drilling a hole. Ideally, such system should provide an
infinite range of positions of the nose piece with respect to the rest of
the drilling apparatus. Such system would allow the appendage extending
from the drill to not interfere with the locking of the drilling apparatus
to the drill fixture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The infinitely positionable nose coupling system of the present invention
includes a hollow outer race, a hollow inner race, and a locking assembly
which permits locking of the hollow inner race to the hollow outer race in
an infinite number of positions. The hollow outer race engages a nose
piece and the hollow inner race threadably engages the drill housing.
Accordingly, the nose piece is infinitely positionable with respect to the
drill housing by positioning the hollow inner race with respect to the
hollow outer race and allowing the locking assembly to hold the races in
position one with respect to the other.
A better understanding of the infinitely positionable indexing nose
coupling of the present invention may be had from a brief explanation of
the construction of each portion and its interaction with the other parts.
The hollow inner race has an internally threaded proximal ring portion for
attachment to the drill housing and a central portion having a plurality
of flats on which rollers are positioned. The rollers are separated by
coil springs. Coil springs position the rollers with respect to the inner
race. The rollers are further positioned with respect to the inner race by
the cage portion of a locking assembly. Accordingly, when the cage portion
of the locking assembly is rotated, the coil springs between the rollers
are compressed and the hollow outer race may be rotated with respect to
the hollow inner race. When the locking assembly is released, the coil
springs extend thus causing the rollers to become wedged in the space
between the flats on the exterior of the hollow inner race and the
interior of the hollow outer race. This wedging action of the rollers
firmly positions the outer race with respect to the inner race.
Accordingly, the position of the nose piece is then fixed with respect to
the position of the drill housing.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
A better understanding of the indexing coupling of the present invention
may be had by reference to the figures wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the indexing coupling of the present
invention installed in a drilling apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the indexing coupling of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at Line 2--2; and
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the indexing coupling of the
present invention.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
As may be seen by reference to FIG. 1, a drilling system generally 100
typically includes a power unit 102. Attached to the power unit 102 is a
chuck (not shown) for holding and rotating a drill bit 104. At the front
end of drilling system 100 is a nose piece 106. The nose piece 106
provides a mounting for a taper lock style drill bushing 108. The taper
lock style drill bushing 108 includes an external cam surface 109 which
interacts with the undersides 111 of the heads of two fasteners 110. The
fasteners 110 are positioned with respect to a drill fixture 112 over a
work piece 114.
When it is desired to drill a hole in a work piece 114, drill fixture 112
is placed over the site of the hole in work piece 114. Drilling system 100
is rigidly positioned with respect to drill fixture 112 by the interaction
of the external cam surface 109 of the taper lock style drill bushing 108
with the underside 111 of the fasteners 110 which protrude from the drill
fixture 112. Taper lock style drill bushing 108 threadably 107 engages
nose piece 106. The advancing drill bit 104 passes through and is guided
by taper lock style drill bushing 108, thence through drill fixture 112
and into work piece 114.
When it is desired to disengage the drilling system 100 from the drill
fixture 112, the operator rotates the drilling system 100 around its long
axis. Taper lock style drill bushing 108 disengages fasteners 110 and
drilling system 100 is moved away from drill fixture 112.
As may be further seen with reference to FIG. 1, there is oftentimes an
appendage 101 which extends from the long axis of the drilling system 100.
If the drilling system 100 is to be used in a confined place, such as a
corner, it may not be possible to rotate the complete drilling system 100
to sufficiently turn the taper lock style drill bushing 108 such that
external cam surface 109 fully travels along the underside 111 of
fasteners 110. Such a situation may occur when an appendage 101 of the
drilling system 100 hits against a bulk-head, wall or spar. Without full
engagement of the taper lock style drill bushing 108 with the drill
fixture 112, drilling system 100 may wobble. Such wobble causes an
improperly drilled hole, a hole with a skewed axis or a hole with an
unacceptable surface finish. Accordingly, there is a need to be able to
rotatably index the position of the nose piece 106 with respect to the
drill power unit 102 such that the drilling system 100 may be fully
engaged with drill fixture 112 and properly used irrespective of the
position of the bulk-head, wall or spar.
Construction of the indexing nose coupling 10 of the present invention may
be seen with respect to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. Therein it may be seen that the
indexing nose coupling 10 of the present invention is mounted between the
housing of the power unit 102 of a drilling system 100 and the nose piece
106 at the end of the drilling system 100 into which the taper lock style
drill bushing 108 is threaded. Beginning at the center line of the
coupling 10 proceeding radially outward, it may be seen that the indexing
coupling 10 of the present invention has three essential parts.
The first essential part, the hollow inner race 20, is threaded onto the
drill power unit 102. The hollow inner race 20 includes an internally
threaded proximal ring portion 22, a center portion 24 having a plurality
of flats 25, a distal flange portion 26, and a distal ring portion 28.
While flat surfaces 25 are shown in the preferred embodiment, it will be
understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that slight curvatures in
these surfaces will not detract from the operability of the invention.
The second essential part is locking assembly 30. Locking assembly 30
includes a proximal ring portion 32 which encircles the internally
threaded proximal ring portion 22 of the hollow inner race 20. Formed
integrally with the proximal ring portion of the locking assembly is cage
portion 34. Cage portion 34 includes a plurality of spaces 35 formed by
dividers 36. Fitted within spaces 35 between dividers 36 are pairs of
rollers 37, 39. While coil springs 38 as shown in the preferred
embodiment, other spring devices such as leaves or rubber may be used
without departing from the scope of the invention. Separating rollers 37,
39 are coil springs 38. To facilitate movement of the locking assembly 30
with respect to the hollow inner race 20, a bearing assembly 40 may be
inserted between the proximal ring portion 32 of the locking assembly 30
and the internally threaded proximal ring portion 22 of the inner race 20.
Fitting over the distal portion 28 of the inner race 20 is the third
essential part, hollow outer race 50. Hollow outer race includes a
proximal ring portion 52 which fits over cage portion 34 of the locking
assembly 30 and serves to retain the rollers 37, 39 in position. The other
portion of hollow outer race 50 is an externally threaded distal ring
portion 53 which fits over the distal ring portion 28 of the hollow inner
race 20. The distal ring portion 53 of the hollow outer race 50 is
externally threaded for threadable engagement with the nose piece 106.
Placed between the distal ring portion 53 of the hollow outer race 50 and
the distal ring portion 28 of the hollow inner race 20 is a bronze bearing
42 to facilitate rotation of the hollow inner race 20 with respect to the
hollow outer race 50.
OPERATION
It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the inner
20 and outer 50 races may be transposed without departing from the scope
of the invention. Specifically the inner race 20 could be attached to nose
pieces 106 and the outer race 50 attached to power unit 102.
When it is desired to utilize the indexing coupling 10 of the present
invention, the proximal ring portion 32 of the locking assembly 30 is
rotated. As may be seen by reference to FIG. 3, this causes the rollers
37, 39 to move closer together. Specifically, in the preferred embodiment,
coil springs 38 are compressed. Movement of one of the rollers 37, 39
closer to its roller pair mate along the flats 25 of the hollow inner race
20 causes the position of the hollow outer race 50 to not be dependent on
the position of the hollow inner race 20. Accordingly, the hollow outer
race 50, which is attached to the nose piece 106, may then be rotated with
respect to the hollow inner race 20. This facilitates positioning of the
nose piece 106 with respect to the drill housing power unit 102.
When the proximal ring portion 32 of the locking assembly 30 is released,
the coil springs 38 cause the pair of rollers 37, 39 within the cage
portion 34 to separate. This causes the rollers 37, 39 to wedge themselves
in the space 35 formed between the flats 25 on the central portion 24 of
the hollow inner race 20 and the interior 54 of the hollow outer race 50.
This wedging action of the rollers 37, 39 between the flats 25 on the
hollow inner race 20 and the hollow outer race 50 affixes the position of
the hollow inner race 20 with respect to the hollow outer race 50. Because
of the lack of detents in this system it will be understood by those of
ordinary skill in the art that there are an infinite number of positions
that may be assumed by the hollow inner race 20 with respect to the hollow
outer race 50. Once the hollow inner race 20 and hollow outer race 50 have
been affixed together, the entire drill system 100 may be utilized.
The utilization of drilling system 100 requires engagement of the cam
surface 109 of the taper lock style drill bushing 108 with fasteners 110
which protrude out of a fixture 112 placed over a work piece 114 as shown
in FIG. 1. Once the taper lock drill bushing 108 is engaged with drill
fixture 112, the power unit 102 may then be activated and the drill bit
104 moved forward such that a hole is drilled in the work piece 114.
There is thereby provided by the indexing coupling of the present invention
a means for infinitely positioning the drill housing power unit 102 of a
drilling system 100 with respect to the nose piece 106 to avoid abutting a
bulk-head, wall or spar.
While the infinitely positionable indexing nose coupling 10 of the present
invention has been shown by reference to its preferred embodiment, it will
be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments
of the indexing nose coupling 10 of the present invention may be
fabricated by those of ordinary skill in the art once having read the
foregoing disclosure.
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